Partial aortic occlusion devices and methods for cerebral perfusion augmentation

Abstract

Methods are provided for partial aortic obstruction for cerebral perfusion augmentation in patients suffering from global or focal cerebral ischemia. Alternatively, the methods can be used to partially obstruct aortic blood flow to condition the spinal cord to secrete neuroprotective agents prior to abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. The expandable member may be expanded and maintained in an expanded state for at least once cardiac cycle or multiple cardiac cycles to increase cerebral blood flow. The expandable member may then be released after a certain amount of time to release constriction of the aorta.

1 . A method for increasing cerebral blood flow, comprising the steps of:
 advancing a catheter into the descending aorta, the catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and an expandable member mounted on the distal region;
 locating the expandable member in the aorta; and 
 expanding and maintaining an expanded state of the expandable member to partially obstruct blood flow in the aorta during systole and diastole, 
 wherein the expanded state is maintained for at least one cardiac cycle. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expanded state is maintained for more than one cardiac cycle. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising measuring a physiologic parameter. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of adjusting the expansion of the expandable member based on the measured physiologic parameter. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the physiologic parameter is blood pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the physiologic parameter is cerebral blood flow. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable member is a balloon. 
     
     
         8 . A method for increasing cerebral blood flow, comprising the steps of:
 advancing a catheter into the descending aorta, the catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and an expandable member mounted on the distal region;
 locating the expandable member in the aorta; and 
 expanding and maintaining an expanded state of the expandable member to partially obstruct blood flow in the aorta during systole and diastole, 
 wherein the expanded state is maintained for at least 30 minutes. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expanded state is maintained for about an hour. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising releasing the expanded state of the expandable member. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising re-expanding the expanded state of the expandable member to partially obstruct blood flow in the aorta during systole and diastole. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the expandable member is expanded to provide 56% or greater occlusion of the cross-sectional area of the descending aorta. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the expandable member is expanded to provide 64% or greater occlusion of the cross-sectional area of the descending aorta. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the expandable member is expanded to provide 71% or greater occlusion of the cross-sectional area of the descending aorta. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the expandable member is expanded to provide 76% or greater occlusion of the cross-sectional area of the descending aorta. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the expandable member is expanded to provide 83% or greater occlusion of the cross-sectional area of the descending aorta. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the expandable member is expanded to provide 91% or greater occlusion of the cross-sectional area of the descending aorta. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising measuring a physiologic parameter. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of adjusting the expansion of the expandable member based on the measured physiologic parameter.